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Rejoicing in El Salvador As Oscar Romero Declared Martyr

by Jaime Septién The Vatican Commission that reviewed the martyrdom of Oscar Arnulfo Romero Galdámez has given the green light to the process of beatification, ruling that the archbishop of San Salvador was assassinated because of “hatred of the faith.” With this finding, his successor, the current arch-bishop of San Salvador and president of the… continue reading

Thanksgiving Letter 2015

We hoped for a response from our Christmas letter of appeal for approval for another year at Casa Juan Diego. Our readers voted a resounding “yes.” You responded positively and generously, getting us off to a good start in 2015. Thanksgiving gets short shrift, not only in our acquisitive culture, but  in non-acquisitive Casa Juan… continue reading

Christmas Letter 2014

Dear Friends of Casa Juan Diego, It is hard to celebrate Christmas in these times of conflict and violence. There is the terror of guns and arms, but also the terror of poverty impacting families worldwide. But celebrate we must: celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace, whose first message came from the stable… continue reading

Dorothy Day’s Reflections on Advent

Advent is a time of waiting, of expectation, of silence.  Waiting for our Lord to be born. A pregnant woman is so happy, so content. She lives in such a garment of silence, and it is as though she were listening to hear the stir of life within her. One always hears the stirring compared… continue reading

The Beatitudes Are the New Commandments

As Moses had covenanted with God by virtue of the law received on Mount Sinai, so Jesus, from a hill on the shore of the Lake of Galilee, gives to his disciples and to the crowd a new lesson which begins with the Beatitudes. Moses gives the Law on Mount Sinai and Jesus, the new… continue reading

Help Refugees Created By the Aftermath of the Iraq War

People have been asking us to write about how the United States should respond to the terrible violence of ISIS, or the Islamic state. The images and examples, of their cruelty, especially towards Christians, are barbaric. There must be a response. As we have pondered this question, we have been unable to forget some of… continue reading

Conference at St. Francis College in Indiana: DOROTHY DAY AND THE CHURCH MAY 13-15, 2015

Dorothy Day (1897-1980) was famously eulogized as “the most significant, interesting and influential person in the history of American Catholicism.” Her life embodied the recent call of Pope Francis to build “a poor Church for the poor”—and her combination of political radicalism with Catholic orthodoxy has the potential to lead the Church beyond the categories… continue reading

Receiving Mothers and Children Traumatized by Border Experience

This summer, there has been an unprecedented increase in the numbers of women with children and unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. from Central and South America. At Casa Juan Diego, we are often asked how this change has affected us. Although we are not able to house children traveling alone, we do accept mothers with… continue reading

Doorkeeper For The Lord: ND Student Meets God In the Poor

Cristina is a student at the University of Notre Dame, She spent eight weeks this summer living and working at Casa Juan Diego. “What image comes to mind when you hear the word ‘God’?” Upon reading this reflection prompt I first thought it seemed incredibly simple. Growing up I often pictured God similar to Michelangelo’s… continue reading

Babies in the River – Urgent Humanitarian Situation, Part 2 – Breaking News and St. Basil

Commenting here on a breaking news story such as the children from Central America in custody at the Texas border runs the risk that the situation may have changed drastically by the time you read this. On the other hand, it is fascinating to look at current events “with a Bible in one hand and… continue reading